Abstract [en]

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect both short and long term, regarding pain and function at stabilizing exercise compared to other interventions in patients with sub acute or chronic pain, and to examine the quality of the included studies.

Method: The study is a systematic literature review which is an update of a previous systematic review. The search was made in four databases. Data were extracted from the included studies and presented in text and table. Methodological assessment was conducted with the help of the SBU's review template.

Results: Nineteen studies were included. The studies had varying methodological quality and none showed an adequate quality. Most of the included studies reported a significant benefit to the intervention of stabilizing exercise compared with general training - regarding pain and function post- intervention and short term (3 months). Comparing stabilizing training versus manual therapy or minimal intervention, a few studies found advantage for stabilizing exercise regarding rated pain and function in the long term.

Conclusions: The result indicates that stabilizing exercises are effective in the treatment of low back pain in the short term compared to general training regarding rated pain and function. In comparison with manual therapy and minimal intervention, the results are not clear but show a slight advantage for stabilizing exercises, both in terms of pain and function.